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This document was considered at Co.(25 Meeting.
Co. S. (44 30th
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY,
SECRET
C.0. S. (41) 35
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
13th JANUARY, 1941
COPY NO.
25
WAR CABINET
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
BRITISH UNITED STATES TECHNICAL CONVERSATIONS.
Note by the Head of the UK. Delegation,
There are two points which I should like to bring to the notice of the Chiefs of Staff before the United Kingdom Delegation leaves for Washington.
Britisn-United States Liaison.
2.
Firstly, Brigadier-General Lee has recently approached the War Office and suggested that the time has come when we should review the present methods for liaison between the British and United States armed forces, and agree upon the methods by which this liaison should be placed on a war footing if and when the United States come into the war. He emphasises the importance of an early agreement being obtained, so that there may be no delay and confusion at the last minute.
3.
Brigadier-General Lee had in mind the following:-
(a) The perfecting of the present arrangements for the exchange of information between the Services, with a view to defining clearly the method by which this should be achieved until America enters the war. He pointed out that there would be many occasions on which one or all of the British or United States' Services would wish to exchange views with each other. He thought there would be much advantage in defining the channel through which this collaboration would be established.
(b) With regard to the procedure if and when the United States enter the war, Brigadier-General Lee thought that we ought to be clear on the various Liaison Missions which would have to be exchanged. He indicated that the term "Mission" was not very popular in the United States, where its significance was that of a body coming to be instructed. Some other term might be devised, such as "Advanced Headquarters" or "Special Liaison Mission.
4. In paragraph 16 of the instructions to the U. K. Delegation a reference is made to the need for the presence of an Air Mission in this country. Apart from this, however, no detailed instructions have been given to the United Kingdom Delegation on the question of the various Liaison Missions which might be established if and when the United States come into the "ar. Considerable ground was covered on the Naval
C. 0. S. (40) 1052
Im
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